Freedom (Billionaire Secrets 2)

He looked down at her, taking in the forlorn expression on her face. All through high school Heather had been invisible to girls like Dannicka. Sure, the cheerleaders had been polite to Heather whenever he was around, but it was now obvious that they merely tolerated her to get to him. Even now they refused to see her. Refused to see how special she was.

Yet here she was, braving this ridiculous event to save a company she had only been working at for less than three months. She was fighting for her son. For her reputation. This must have been such an uncomfortable situation for her, but she was putting on a brave face and doing something that had to be taking a toll on her emotionally. Meanwhile Dannicka was here, trying to make things even more difficult for her. Dannicka was belittling Heather and trying to make her feel small for no reason other than to boost her own ego. Anger gripped him. Consequences be damned. He didn’t care what happened now. Simon wasn’t going to put up with this.

“Little old Heather isn’t out of the picture.” He slipped his arm out of Dannicka’s and put it around Heather’s shoulder and pulled her close. “In fact, we’re very much still together.”

Heather gasped. “Simon.”

Dannicka’s eyes nearly popped out of her head, her face suddenly turning a shade of green. “But... didn’t you release a statement saying you two were over? I thought that’s why you were here. To put those vicious rumors to rest.”

“You thought wrong,” he said firmly. “I’m not interested in cheerleaders. Never have been.”

“I only came to this stupid reunion   because I heard through the grapevine that you were coming,” Dannicka hissed. “I got assurances that you were single and available. I can’t believe I wasted all this money on a new dress.”

“You heard wrong.” Simon kissed the top of Heather’s head, the familiar sent of her shampoo sending him into a haze of desire. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, Heather and I would like to enjoy each other’s company. Go through some old memories of our own.”

Without so much as a goodbye, Dannicka flounced off in a huff.

Heather pulled away from him and crossed her arms. “Simon, what the hell are you doing?”

“I wasn’t going to stand there and let her get away with talking to you like that,” he growled. Let Heather be angry. He wasn’t about to apologize for defending her.

“I could hug you for trying to help me.” She flashed him a faint smile. “But someone could have seen you with your arm around me. And now Dannicka might go and tell people that we’re together.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry I let my anger get the best of me, but that’s all I’m apologizing for. Dannicka got exactly what she deserved. She was throwing herself at me at your expense. It was embarrassing. For all of us.”

“She’s probably just holding on to her jealousy,” she said.

“Holding on?” He frowned. “You knew she liked me back in high school?”

“Everyone knew.”

“I didn’t.”

“That’s because you’re oblivious.” She laughed. “You never saw all the girls panting after you.”

“I wasn’t oblivious to you,” he pointed out.

She bit her lip and gazed at him. “I’m glad you weren’t.”

Suddenly the lights in the ballroom dimmed and the sound of a slow melody filled the room. It was one of those old pop songs they must have played at a hundred schools dances when they were growing up. The singer started crooning and Simon recognized the voice instantly.

Heather’s eyes lit up. “It’s our song.”

“We danced to this at prom,” he said. Memories of that night raced through his mind. Memories of their first time together made his blood start to race. The old, familiar song was taking him back to one of the best nights of his life.

He watched her as she started to sway gently in time to the music. The low sound of her humming along with the song almost did him in. Seeing her like this did something to his insides. She looked like the weight of the night was lifting from her shoulders. And she was now somehow lighter. Freer.